How to Land a Job as a Robotics Professor in Top 10 Robotic Universities

Want to become a robotics professor at top universities? Here is a guide for you to follow

Robotics is an exciting, expanding industry. According to the International Federation of Robotics, robot sales are steadily increasing by several billion dollars each year in the medical, agriculture, and manufacturing sectors. As more and more processes in these and other industries are left to robots, the next-generation workforce should be able to build, program, and maintain them. Robotics professors and teachers provide essential education in this area. In this article, we will take you through a robotics professor career.

For becoming a robotics professor in the top robotics universities, you need to know the types of faculty present in the universities.

Tenured Faculty

Tenured faculty have direct educational involvement with students inside and outside the classroom, including such activities as instruction, seminars, independent study project supervision advising undergraduate and graduate students, and supervision of graduate and postdoctoral research. Other educational activities include the development of new or reformed courses, curricula, degree programs, and training programs; educational publications, textbooks, and other instructional materials; editorial work on professional journals.

Faculty in this category are subject to the tenure procedure outlined in the Faculty Handbook. Titles included are Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, and Professor. Complete SCS policy on Criteria for Teaching Track Faculty is available.

Research Faculty

Research faculty are fully supported by sources external to the university; primary contributions most closely resemble regular faculty positions regarding responsibility in designing, carrying out, and managing research, including serving as a principal investigator when appropriate; are not required to teach, though many choose to do so; and are not subject to the tenure procedure, though performance is evaluated regularly by department, school and university review committees.

Research faculty have the same rights and responsibilities as tenure-track faculty. In particular, research faculty may supervise Ph.D. students and be principal investigators on research proposals. The titles are Assistant Research Professor, Associate Research Professor, and Research Professor. Complete SCS policy on Criteria for Research Track Faculty is available.

Systems Faculty

Systems faculty conduct and support research in basic and applied computer science, and advance the state of practice. The hallmark of these positions is creativity in the implementation of research ideas and problem solutions, and in the management of research programs. These positions, which range in computer science, computer architecture, communication, robotics, and related disciplines, are characterized by expertise, depth of knowledge, and sustained accomplishment in a particular specialization. Moreover, managerial positions are focal points of responsibility for formulating and achieving research goals that require the ability to lead and coordinate technical activities. All of these positions require persons of sufficiently high caliber and specific talent to justify the conferring of faculty status to attract and retain them, without requiring them to indulge in all the activities expected of regular faculty members.

Responsibilities include:

Teach at undergraduate and postgraduate level
Conduct research that leads to publications in top-tier refereed journals and awards of research grants
Undertake research, program/curriculum development, and administration
Supervise student projects and theses
Engage in industrial and scholarly research/consultancy activities
Undertake academic and departmental administrative duties
Perform any other duties as assigned by the Head of Unit or his/her delegates

Qualifications

Faculty candidates are expected to have a strong interest in research, outstanding academic credentials, and an earned doctoral degree. Candidates for tenure-track appointments should also have a record of excellence in graduate and undergraduate education.

Must have a Ph.D. degree in a relevant discipline
Relevant post-qualification experience and a proven track record of research in but not limited to one or more of the following areas:

(i) Robotics;

(ii) Intelligent machine and systems

(iii) Mechatronics and mechanisms

(iv) Smart systems and control

(v) Digital technology and artificial intelligence (AI)

(vi) Other strategic robotics-related interdisciplinary areas

Strong commitment to excellence in teaching and research
Good publication records;
Good networking ability; and
Excellent communication skills and the ability to use English as the medium of instruction.